For anyone with an electric device, seeing it run out of battery is a dreadful sight. That’s why people carry their chargers around, especially when they spend the entire day outside. But what happens when you can’t drive around with your charger?

That’s precisely what runs through the heads of EV owners as they experience range anxiety. Technically, range anxiety is the fear EV owners have of running out of battery while on the road. Basically, it’s the fear of getting stranded with no place to charge.

Compared to petrol car users who can force the vehicle to last till they reach the nearest station, EV owners don’t have that luxury since electric vehicle chargers are not as rampant. But like every other road mishap, range anxiety can be prevented, and here’s how:

Checklist For Avoiding Range Anxiety on Long Road Trips

1. Charge Before Leaving

Like every other device, having a full charge before embarking on the day’s journey is a significant first step to avoiding road anxieties. With a full charge, you’re more confident of a long ride and less scared of your vehicle running out of charge on the road.

So be sure to have a wall-mounted charger as this is more efficient than the street outlets. It charges quicker, and your battery lasts longer, making it a good investment.

2. Always Plan Ahead

There’s nothing more favourable for a long journey than a well-thought-out plan. How much charge will you need during the journey? What outlets are along your route, and how many stops do you need to make? Are electric car chargers universal?

The better planned your trip is, the lower the chances of experiencing range anxiety.

3. Install Apps for Tracking EV Charging

Another way to plan a trip properly is to have handy apps for tracking your charging behaviour. They also help identify the nearest charging station, so if you do get low on charge, you can quickly fill up.

4. Drive at A Steady Pace

It’s a known fact that driving at higher speeds causes petrol to burn faster in cars. In the same vein, going faster actually consumes more battery and leaves you in need of a recharge quicker than usual. A good driving tip is to do so at a controlled pace with minimal braking to prevent a quick rundown of your EV battery.

5. Check for Miscellaneous Factors

Sometimes, it’s the little things that matter. The difference between stopping halfway and making that extra 200m to the charge station could be as simple as unplugging your phone from the car charger or turning off the air conditioning. You never can tell what will keep your motor running for a little longer.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the key to getting rid of range anxiety is proper road trip planning—emphasis on charging before the trip, as you’ll want to start on a full charge. Ultimately, driving patterns and the use of apps for locating charging points are examples of anxiety killers.